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Charming Monsters
Wesley is a college professor with a deep and unhealthy fascination the darker side of things. When he starts writing a book on a series of serial murders, he comes to the attention of some very dangerous people. Jack is sent to silence Wesley, but discovers that he is far more interested in Wesley himself.
When Wesley looks up after his first class of the semester, he notices a very avid, very handsome student who asks all the right questions. When Jack follows him to an isolated study room in the library, it is only the beginning of a journey that will have unexpected consequences for both of them.
Publisher’s This book contains strong elements of erotic horror or what is commonly called “darkfic”.
When Wesley looks up after his first class of the semester, he notices a very avid, very handsome student who asks all the right questions. When Jack follows him to an isolated study room in the library, it is only the beginning of a journey that will have unexpected consequences for both of them.
Publisher’s This book contains strong elements of erotic horror or what is commonly called “darkfic”.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
81 people want to read
About the author
Kannan Feng
24 books3 followersKannan Feng lives next door to Lake Michigan and her current interests include the Ottoman Empire, silk production, and alternative histories. She has published fiction with Circlet Press, Strange Horizons, Alien Skin, Ruthie's Club, and Oysters and Chocolate.
She is wary of writing in the third person, but does it more often than she would have expected.
She is wary of writing in the third person, but does it more often than she would have expected.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2025
3.5 stars
September 19, 2022
🖤 Jack + Wesley 🖤
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎
"I know all about guys like you," Jack repeated. "You think crime scene shots are jerk-off material."
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥
"My property, my territory, Jack found himself thinking, and then he simply settles on "mine" before pulling Wesley close and going to sleep."
-`ღ´-
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎
"I know all about guys like you," Jack repeated. "You think crime scene shots are jerk-off material."
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥
"My property, my territory, Jack found himself thinking, and then he simply settles on "mine" before pulling Wesley close and going to sleep."
-`ღ´-
September 25, 2021
It's a novella so I can't complain but there's not much of a plot to it, it's mainly hardcore kinky sex between two monsters. It has a lot of potential to be an amazing novel though
May 5, 2013
This title was provided free by the author or publisher for review purposes. Review originally posted at Brief Encounters Reviews.
Rating: B-
I have to admit, after reading the publisher's note it was with some trepidation that I picked this one up, but the blurb did hook me in. However, in the end the story wasn't as unpleasantly dark as I'd feared, and there is certainly a strong "happy for now" , possibly even a faint "happy ever after", at the end.
The story is mostly told from the point of view of Dr. Wesley Barton, a college professor who teaches courses on the history of crime in Chicago. He's obsessive about his work, staying up all night looking at grisly crime scene photographs for his research. He also happens to be very young—only ten years older than his students—but unlike them doesn't appear to have any kind of social life whatsoever.
Like Wesley, the enigmatic Jack Denali is also very youthful in appearance, although he has that handy attribute (for criminals anyway) of a forgettable face—that is, until he smiles. We are introduced to him when he breaks into Wesley's empty apartment and starts searching through his stuff looking for reasearch on a series of historical murders Wesley is writing a book about. We discover that this is at the behest of a rather creepy client known to us only as "Easter". At this early stage Jack also stumbles across Wesley's secret porn stash, which involves photographs of young men, bound and fearful. It is this discovery that sets the tone for all their future interactions.
The first interaction between the two men is flirtatious, with Jack posing as a student wanting to sit in on Wesley's classes. However, even in this innocent seeming conversation, Wesley has the disquieting notion that he needs to be careful, as Jack has "teeth". We soon discover just how sharp these are when Jack corners Wesley in a caged archive cubicle. Jack is predatory and commanding, and Wesley willingly submits, although not without a certain amount of protest.
Those accustomed to reading safe, sane and consensual BDSM might find the sex in this story hard to stomach. It is violent, menacing and rough, with Wesley genuinely fearing for his safety at times (and with good reason considering the kind of man Jack is and what he's been sent to do). However, although Wesley is never given a safeword, Jack does give him opt outs of a sort, so it remains just on the border with dubious consent. I was in no doubt that Wesley genuinely desired the kind of treatment Jack metes out, but I did find myself wondering why.
The ending wasn't entirely unexpected and actually rather sweeter than I'd dared hope for, but there were definitely some moments along the way where I feared for Wesley's safety. This definitely kept me turning the pages quickly. Indeed, my main criticism of this rather intense and dark story is that we find out so little about Jack and Wesley they just didn't come across as rounded individuals. If you're just reading for the violent sex or thriller elements then this needn't be a problem, but it made it rather a stretch to believe there was any chance of a workable relationship developing between these two men.
In summary, avoid if you're at all squeamish about dubious consent or violent sadomasochism, but those who enjoy a more edgy story will find much to recommend this little tale.
Rating: B-
I have to admit, after reading the publisher's note it was with some trepidation that I picked this one up, but the blurb did hook me in. However, in the end the story wasn't as unpleasantly dark as I'd feared, and there is certainly a strong "happy for now" , possibly even a faint "happy ever after", at the end.
The story is mostly told from the point of view of Dr. Wesley Barton, a college professor who teaches courses on the history of crime in Chicago. He's obsessive about his work, staying up all night looking at grisly crime scene photographs for his research. He also happens to be very young—only ten years older than his students—but unlike them doesn't appear to have any kind of social life whatsoever.
Like Wesley, the enigmatic Jack Denali is also very youthful in appearance, although he has that handy attribute (for criminals anyway) of a forgettable face—that is, until he smiles. We are introduced to him when he breaks into Wesley's empty apartment and starts searching through his stuff looking for reasearch on a series of historical murders Wesley is writing a book about. We discover that this is at the behest of a rather creepy client known to us only as "Easter". At this early stage Jack also stumbles across Wesley's secret porn stash, which involves photographs of young men, bound and fearful. It is this discovery that sets the tone for all their future interactions.
The first interaction between the two men is flirtatious, with Jack posing as a student wanting to sit in on Wesley's classes. However, even in this innocent seeming conversation, Wesley has the disquieting notion that he needs to be careful, as Jack has "teeth". We soon discover just how sharp these are when Jack corners Wesley in a caged archive cubicle. Jack is predatory and commanding, and Wesley willingly submits, although not without a certain amount of protest.
Those accustomed to reading safe, sane and consensual BDSM might find the sex in this story hard to stomach. It is violent, menacing and rough, with Wesley genuinely fearing for his safety at times (and with good reason considering the kind of man Jack is and what he's been sent to do). However, although Wesley is never given a safeword, Jack does give him opt outs of a sort, so it remains just on the border with dubious consent. I was in no doubt that Wesley genuinely desired the kind of treatment Jack metes out, but I did find myself wondering why.
The ending wasn't entirely unexpected and actually rather sweeter than I'd dared hope for, but there were definitely some moments along the way where I feared for Wesley's safety. This definitely kept me turning the pages quickly. Indeed, my main criticism of this rather intense and dark story is that we find out so little about Jack and Wesley they just didn't come across as rounded individuals. If you're just reading for the violent sex or thriller elements then this needn't be a problem, but it made it rather a stretch to believe there was any chance of a workable relationship developing between these two men.
In summary, avoid if you're at all squeamish about dubious consent or violent sadomasochism, but those who enjoy a more edgy story will find much to recommend this little tale.
January 20, 2013
By the cover, the title and the blurb I knew this was going to be a hard read. And it was. Very dark. But damn it was powerful. I actually really "enjoyed" it, if enjoyed is the right word. What that says about me? I'm not sure. This story took me well out of my comfort-reading- zone, but sometimes it is good to be stretched like that. Probably just as well that it was short though :-)
January 27, 2013
There’s quite a bit of BDSM in the story, nothing terribly overt, but threatening elements and a few disturbing ones, too.
This story is not for everyone. If you’ve got a strong vanilla drive where sex is concerned this may not be something you want to get into.
Please see Mr. P's complete review on February 9, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
This story is not for everyone. If you’ve got a strong vanilla drive where sex is concerned this may not be something you want to get into.
Please see Mr. P's complete review on February 9, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
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December 6, 2015
4.5 stars
A few editorial errors, but the story and characters were complex and interesting enough that I would have preferred a longer story, getting to see more into their lives and their developing relationship. However, it has a solid enough ending that the short length doesn't feel like a loss.
A few editorial errors, but the story and characters were complex and interesting enough that I would have preferred a longer story, getting to see more into their lives and their developing relationship. However, it has a solid enough ending that the short length doesn't feel like a loss.
January 20, 2013
This was pretty twisted and not my thing but the writing was good. Be warned there is rough sex. Consenting but barely.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews